September 25 '07: A new report released by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's administration has outlined several steps the state can take to improve its homeland security operations, and response and recovery outreach to local business and residential communities the Boston Herald reported.

State homeland security officials said the new measures would help to streamline information-sharing processes among agencies as well as increase participation among responder agencies.

The report found that "the most important step the state can take is to improve communications between first responders and state and local officials," the Herald reported.

It also emphasized the importance of helping community businesses prepare for and respond to disasters through the creation of the Massachusetts Recovery Alliance. "We know that individuals will turn to the state, as a whole, to get back to normal."

The commonwealth's Undersecretary for Homeland Security, Juliet Kayyem told the Herald that part of the restructuring process was to mitigate decreased federal funding.

Kayyem also said that the report addresses special needs communities because, "the state's obligation to its citizens requires a developed and comprehensive approach to homeland security that also addresses the needs of citizens who may need extra assistance in an emergency, such as those with disabilities."